Kyle of Lochalsh Line
Encyclopedia
The Kyle of Lochalsh Line is a primarily single track
railway line in the Scottish Highlands
, running from Dingwall
to Kyle of Lochalsh
. The population along the route is sparse in nature, but the scenery is beautiful and can be quite dramatic, the Kyle line having been likened to a symphony in three parts: pastoral, mountain and sea. Many of the passengers on the trains are tourists but one can also expect to meet locals visiting Inverness for shopping, and commuters. All services are provided by First ScotRail
and run to . To maintain the passenger link beyond Inverness, a train runs beyond, having in the past come from Glasgow, Edinburgh or Aberdeen.
Latterly the Strathpeffer Branch operated between 1885 and 1951.
In 1989 the bridge over the River Ness
was washed away, leaving both it and the Far North Line stranded, but new "Sprinter"
trains were brought over by road, and a temporary yard was built to service them at Muir of Ord
. The section of line along Loch Carron
is particularly troublesome and prone to landslide
s, often closing that section.
Whilst undeniably a rural line, a historic term in the act of parliament for the railways here and around Inverness means that one through service per week is operated from Aberdeen, whereas all other services start and finish at Inverness.
and the ferry to Stornoway
. Achnasheen provides road links westward to Gairloch
. Strathcarron allows connection onwards to the villages of Lochcarron
, Torridon
and Applecross
.
Only Dingwall and Kyle stations are staffed, however all stations along the route have lighting and passenger information posters with train timetable details. Most have passenger information telephone points fitted so that remote customer service staff can be contacted. Normal office hours apply.
lyrical documentary The Line to Skye (1973) with commentary by Scottish writer William McIlvanney
, commissioned as part of Ross & Cromarty's campaign to keep the line open at a time when it was threatened with closure. The film follows the train from Inverness to Kyle of Lochalsh, describing the communities, landscape and wildlife along its route, while contrasting the frustration of motorists with the relaxation of the journey by rail.
In Stephen Durrell's 1939 documentary West of Inverness, the importance of the Kyle of Lochalsh line to the crofters of the West Highlands is demonstrated through its role of transporting passengers, mail, parcels, food and livestock to and from their communities. The film shows the LMS
steam locomotive
s that operated the line at this time.
In the episode of Great Railway Journeys of the World
"Confessions of a Trainspotter" (1980), Michael Palin
travels from London
to the Kyle of Lochalsh and returns with the railway station's sign.
Single track (rail)
A single track railway is where trains in both directions share the same track. Single track is normally used on lesser used rail lines, often branch lines, where the traffic density is not high enough to justify the cost of building double tracks....
railway line in the Scottish Highlands
Scottish Highlands
The Highlands is an historic region of Scotland. The area is sometimes referred to as the "Scottish Highlands". It was culturally distinguishable from the Lowlands from the later Middle Ages into the modern period, when Lowland Scots replaced Scottish Gaelic throughout most of the Lowlands...
, running from Dingwall
Dingwall
Dingwall is a town and former royal burgh in the Highland council area of Scotland. It has a population of 5,026. It was formerly an east-coast harbor but now lies inland. Dingwall Castle was once the biggest castle north of Stirling. On the town's present-day outskirts lies Tulloch Castle, parts...
to Kyle of Lochalsh
Kyle of Lochalsh
Kyle of Lochalsh is a village on the northwest coast of Scotland, 63 miles west of Inverness. It is located at the entrance to Loch Alsh, opposite the village of Kyleakin on the Isle of Skye...
. The population along the route is sparse in nature, but the scenery is beautiful and can be quite dramatic, the Kyle line having been likened to a symphony in three parts: pastoral, mountain and sea. Many of the passengers on the trains are tourists but one can also expect to meet locals visiting Inverness for shopping, and commuters. All services are provided by First ScotRail
First ScotRail
ScotRail Railways Ltd. is the FirstGroup-owned train operating company running domestic passenger trains within Scotland, northern England and the cross-border Caledonian Sleeper service to London using the brand ScotRail which is the property of the Scottish Government...
and run to . To maintain the passenger link beyond Inverness, a train runs beyond, having in the past come from Glasgow, Edinburgh or Aberdeen.
History
The route was built in three sections:-- Inverness and Ross-shire RailwayInverness and Ross-shire RailwayThe Inverness and Ross-shire Railway was incorporated on 3 July 1860 with the aim to build a line to Invergordon. The line opened in stages:* 11 June 1862 - Inverness to Dingwall* 23 March 1863 - Dingwall to Invergordon...
between Inverness and Dingwall - Dingwall and Skye RailwayDingwall and Skye RailwayThe Dingwall and Skye Railway was authorised on 5 July 1865 with the aim of providing a route to Skye and the Herbrides. However due to local objections, another Act of Parliament was required before work could commence. This was passed on 29 May 1868...
between Dingwall and Stromeferry - Kyle of Lochalsh Extension (Highland Railway)Dingwall and Skye RailwayThe Dingwall and Skye Railway was authorised on 5 July 1865 with the aim of providing a route to Skye and the Herbrides. However due to local objections, another Act of Parliament was required before work could commence. This was passed on 29 May 1868...
between Stromeferry and Kyle of Lochalsh
Latterly the Strathpeffer Branch operated between 1885 and 1951.
In 1989 the bridge over the River Ness
River Ness
The River Ness is a river flowing from Loch Ness in Scotland, north to Inverness and the Moray Firth. On a hill above the river in Inverness stands Inverness Castle. The river is overlooked by the Eden Court Theatre, one of the largest theatres in Scotland. St. Andrews Cathedral also lies along...
was washed away, leaving both it and the Far North Line stranded, but new "Sprinter"
British Rail Class 156
The British Rail Class 156 Super Sprinter is a diesel multiple-unit train . 114 of these units were built from 1987 to 1989 by Metro-Cammell at its Washwood Heath Works in Birmingham...
trains were brought over by road, and a temporary yard was built to service them at Muir of Ord
Muir of Ord
Muir of Ord is a village in Highland, Scotland. It is situated near the western boundary of the Black Isle, about 20 km west of the city of Inverness, and 10 km south of Dingwall...
. The section of line along Loch Carron
Loch Carron
Loch Carron is a sea loch on the west coast of Ross and Cromarty in the Scottish Highlands. It is the point at which the River Carron enters the North Atlantic Ocean....
is particularly troublesome and prone to landslide
Landslide
A landslide or landslip is a geological phenomenon which includes a wide range of ground movement, such as rockfalls, deep failure of slopes and shallow debris flows, which can occur in offshore, coastal and onshore environments...
s, often closing that section.
Whilst undeniably a rural line, a historic term in the act of parliament for the railways here and around Inverness means that one through service per week is operated from Aberdeen, whereas all other services start and finish at Inverness.
Beeching Report
In the 1960s the line was listed to be axed under the Beeching Report. However the line was reprieved and services continued.Modernisation
From 1999 onwards, the then ScotRail owner, National Express, began the removal of the Class 156 "Sprinter" trains. Their replacement was to be the faster, higher standard Class 158. These trains offered a better all round travelling experience, with air conditioning, improved speed, lighting, seating, storage and general comfort. There is now a dedicated fleet of Class 158 units based at Inverness serving the Kyle of Lochalsh line (also serving the Far North Line and Aberdeen to Inverness Line). The current franchise owner First ScotRail has continued the current situation, with improvement to the depot facilities at Inverness.2007/08
During the winter months there are three, generally 2 car services, per day in both directions, with no Sunday services. During summer months, Monday to Saturday services increase to four in both directions, mostly running as 4 cars, with two additional services running in each direction on a Sunday.From December 2008
As of December 2008 service enhancements have meant the introduction of four daily trains all year round, Monday - Saturday.| Timetable | Mon - Fri | Saturday | Sunday |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Four | Four | Two |
| Winter | Four | Four | One |
Route
The stations on the line that have passing loops are , , , and . Garve serves as a link for bus services to UllapoolUllapool
Ullapool is a small town of around 1,300 inhabitants in Ross and Cromarty, Highland, Scotland. Despite its small size, it is the largest settlement for many miles around, and is a major tourist destination of Scotland. The North Atlantic Drift passes by Ullapool, bringing moderate temperatures...
and the ferry to Stornoway
Stornoway
Stornoway is a burgh on the Isle of Lewis, in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland.The town's population is around 9,000, making it the largest settlement in the Western Isles and the third largest town in the Scottish Highlands after Inverness and Fort William...
. Achnasheen provides road links westward to Gairloch
Gairloch
Gairloch is a village, civil parish and community on the shores of Loch Gairloch on the northwest coast of Scotland. A popular tourist destination in the summer months, Gairloch has a golf course, a small museum, several hotels, a community centre, a leisure centre with sports facilities, a local...
. Strathcarron allows connection onwards to the villages of Lochcarron
Lochcarron
Lochcarron is a village, community and civil parish in the Wester Ross area of Highland, Scotland. It has a population of 923.-Local Information:...
, Torridon
Torridon
Torridon is a small village in the Northwest Highlands of Scotland. However the name is also applied to the area surrounding the village, particularly the Torridon Hills, mountains to the north of Glen Torridon. It lies on the shore of Loch Torridon.Torridon is on the west coast of Scotland, ...
and Applecross
Applecross
The Applecross peninsula is a peninsula in Wester Ross, Highland, on the west coast of Scotland. The name Applecross is at least 1300 years old and is not used locally to refer to the 19th century village with the pub and post office, lying on the small Applecross Bay, facing the Inner Sound, on...
.
Only Dingwall and Kyle stations are staffed, however all stations along the route have lighting and passenger information posters with train timetable details. Most have passenger information telephone points fitted so that remote customer service staff can be contacted. Normal office hours apply.
| Places served | No. of Platforms | Staffed | Ordnance Survey Ordnance Survey Ordnance Survey , an executive agency and non-ministerial government department of the Government of the United Kingdom, is the national mapping agency for Great Britain, producing maps of Great Britain , and one of the world's largest producers of maps.The name reflects its creation together with... grid references British national grid reference system The Ordnance Survey National Grid reference system is a system of geographic grid references used in Great Britain, different from using latitude and longitude.... |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dingwall Dingwall Dingwall is a town and former royal burgh in the Highland council area of Scotland. It has a population of 5,026. It was formerly an east-coast harbor but now lies inland. Dingwall Castle was once the biggest castle north of Stirling. On the town's present-day outskirts lies Tulloch Castle, parts... |
Two | Yes | |
| Garve Garve Garve is a village on the Black Water river, in Ross-shire, and is in the Highland Council area of Scotland. It is situated 5 miles northwest of Contin, on the A835, the main road to Ullapool on the west coast, close to where the A832 branches off towards Achnasheen.The village is served by the... |
Two | No | |
| Lochluichart | One | No | |
| Achanalt Achanalt Achanalt is a railway halt in Strath Bran, Ross and Cromarty, in the Scottish council area of Highland. It is served by a railway station on the Kyle of Lochalsh Line from Inverness to Kyle of Lochalsh.-History:... |
One | No | |
| Achnasheen Achnasheen Achnasheen is a small village in Ross-shire in the Highland council area of Scotland. Despite the size of the village, Achnasheen is also the name of a postal district which covers several much larger communities. This dates from the time when the village railway station was an important stop on... |
Two | No | |
| Achnashellach Achnashellach Achnashellach is an area in Wester Ross in the Highlands of Scotland, and within the Highland council area. It is at the eastern end of Loch Dùghaill, and on the A890 road... |
One | No | |
| Strathcarron Strathcarron, Highland Strathcarron is a hamlet, situated at the head of the sea loch, Loch Carron, between the rivers, River Carron and River Taodail, in Wester Ross, Scottish Highlands and is in the Highland council area.... |
Two | No | |
| Attadale Attadale, Scotland Attadale is a settlement and estate in Wester Ross, in the Highland council area of Scotland. It is on the southern shore of of Loch Carron, between the villages of Stromeferry and Strathcarron.... |
One | No | |
| Stromeferry Stromeferry Stromeferry is a village, located on the south shore of the west coast sea loch, Loch Carron, in western Ross-shire, Scottish Highlands and is in the Scottish council area of Highland.It is served by Stromeferry railway station and is close to the A890 road... |
One | No | |
| Duncraig | One | No | |
| Plockton Plockton Plockton is a village in the Highlands of Scotland with a population of 378 .- Details :Plockton is a picturesque settlement on the shores of Loch Carron... |
One | No | |
| Duirinish | One | No | |
| Kyle of Lochalsh Kyle of Lochalsh Kyle of Lochalsh is a village on the northwest coast of Scotland, 63 miles west of Inverness. It is located at the entrance to Loch Alsh, opposite the village of Kyleakin on the Isle of Skye... |
Two | Yes |
Kyle of Lochalsh Line in film
The Kyle of Lochalsh Line was featured in Eddie McConnell'sEddie McConnell
Eddie McConnell is a Scottish documentary film-maker and cameraman. A collection of his work over the last fifty years is held by the Scottish Screen Archive at the National Library of Scotland...
lyrical documentary The Line to Skye (1973) with commentary by Scottish writer William McIlvanney
William McIlvanney
William McIlvanney is a writer of crime stories, novels, and poetry. McIlvanney is a champion of gritty yet poetic literature; his works Laidlaw, The Papers of Tony Veitch, and Walking Wounded are all known for their portrayal of Glasgow in the 1970s.- Life and career :McIlvanney was born in the...
, commissioned as part of Ross & Cromarty's campaign to keep the line open at a time when it was threatened with closure. The film follows the train from Inverness to Kyle of Lochalsh, describing the communities, landscape and wildlife along its route, while contrasting the frustration of motorists with the relaxation of the journey by rail.
In Stephen Durrell's 1939 documentary West of Inverness, the importance of the Kyle of Lochalsh line to the crofters of the West Highlands is demonstrated through its role of transporting passengers, mail, parcels, food and livestock to and from their communities. The film shows the LMS
London, Midland and Scottish Railway
The London Midland and Scottish Railway was a British railway company. It was formed on 1 January 1923 under the Railways Act of 1921, which required the grouping of over 120 separate railway companies into just four...
steam locomotive
Steam locomotive
A steam locomotive is a railway locomotive that produces its power through a steam engine. These locomotives are fueled by burning some combustible material, usually coal, wood or oil, to produce steam in a boiler, which drives the steam engine...
s that operated the line at this time.
In the episode of Great Railway Journeys of the World
Great Railway Journeys
Great Railway Journeys, originally titled Great Railway Journeys of the World, is a recurring series of travel documentaries produced by BBC Television...
"Confessions of a Trainspotter" (1980), Michael Palin
Michael Palin
Michael Edward Palin, CBE FRGS is an English comedian, actor, writer and television presenter best known for being one of the members of the comedy group Monty Python and for his travel documentaries....
travels from London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
to the Kyle of Lochalsh and returns with the railway station's sign.
External links
- Dingwall and Skye Railway
- Kyle of Lochalsh Extension Railway
- Strathpeffer Branch
- Route on OpenStreetMapOpenStreetMapOpenStreetMap is a collaborative project to create a free editable map of the world. Two major driving forces behind the establishment and growth of OSM have been restrictions on use or availability of map information across much of the world and the advent of inexpensive portable GPS devices.The...
(Dingwall–Kyle of Lochalsh) - Historical timetables for this line. See Timetable World - The online collection of historical transport timetables and maps from around the world